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I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer.
He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more.
You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.
Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.
I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing.
Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire.
John 15:1-6 The Message
In this translation of the Bible, God is called a farmer. In this story, he is a grape farmer.
Jesus says his Father cuts off every branch that does not bear grapes, but he also prunes every branch that does.
Jesus raises the following questions.
- Are you connected to Jesus?
Being connected to Jesus means you accepted him as your savior. You have asked him for forgiveness, and by faith accepted that he has forgiven you.
- Is your branch barren?
A barren branch means you have not made Jesus your Lord. You know him as your savior. You may even do religious service in his name, but you have not surrendered your life to him.
The natural progression of the grape farmer is to cut you away from the vine.
- Is your branch fruitful?
A fruitful branch has made Jesus their Lord. You have moved beyond accepting his forgiveness, to asking him to take control of your life.
The result of this decision, is fruit—in this case—grapes.
The natural progression of the grape farmer is to prune away the unproductive part of the branch allowing the branch to become more fruitful.
This is where you find a close personal relationship with the Godhead.
A barren branch has not desire to have a close personal relationship. In simple terms, salvation is little more than a fire escape from hell.
You may want to rethink your life, if it describes you.
The fruitful branch has shown a willingness to know God, and the result is (some) fruit.
Fruit pleases the Father, and much could be said about what the fruit represents.
However, my focus today is on the part that comes next—the pruning.
Pruning isn’t easy, and never “feels” good.
In fact, pruning makes you look barren.
Have you ever seen a pruned bush or tree? It looks like someone got lopper happy (because they did) and cut away everything that makes the tree look nice.
A close personal relationship is like that.
God cuts you back and you look kinda ugly. You are unproductive and barren.
It raises another question; how can you tell the difference between a barren branch and one that has been pruned?
The pruned branch is still connected to the vine, which means life continues to flow to and through you.
Jesus makes it clear that fruit only comes from being connected to him.
He says, “When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant.”
Notice the three things he says about this connection.
The relation is:
- Intimate
A close personal relationship with the Godhead is intimate, which means it is tight.
Because of the goofy world we live in, the word intimate can carry crazy connotations. But, be assured that intimancy with God is not sexual, sensual, or sadistic.
- Organic
Organic means it (your relationship with the Godhead) happens naturally. It isn’t forced or manipulated to serve a greater purpose.
It is borne out of genuine love, care and desire to be close to God.
- Harvest is abundant
The Godhead is interested in a harvest of life, and that means much more than getting someone to say yes to Jesus.
It is about a relationship that is intimate and organic.
Depending on the geographical location, grapes are generally harvested in the Fall or in the Spring.
This is important because a harvest season means there is a growing and pruning season as well.
It means that you produce fruti during harvest, and not everyday.
Since God the Father is the grape farmer, he knows the seasons, and knows how to take care of his branches.
If you are connected to Jesus and your life isn’t fruitful, realize it isn’t harvest season.
Rest in that.
If you are connected to Jesus and your life feels barren, realize it is pruning season.
Be patient in that.
If you are connected to Jesus and your life seems active, but not fruitful, realize you are in growing season.
Rejoice in that.
A close personal relationship with the Godhead is needed now more than ever.
A close personal relationship with the Godhead is a journey. I invite you to follow along. As I learn, I will pass it along so you too can learn. It is my hope that as you learn, you can pass it along so that I (and others) might learn.
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